Wiedmer: FCS football not yet ready for spring schedule past this spring

Staff photo by Troy Stolt / UTC football coach Rusty Wright shouts to his players during their Oct. 24 game at Western Kentucky. After playing just one game in 2020, the 13-10 loss at Western Kentucky, the Mocs will soon begin preparing for an unprecedented spring semester with an eight-team SoCon schedule and the possibility of the FCS playoffs. Staff photo by Troy Stolt / UTC football coach Rusty Wright shouts to his players during their Oct. 24 game at Western Kentucky. After playing just one game in 2020, the 13-10 loss at Western Kentucky, the Mocs will soon begin preparing for an unprecedented spring semester with an eight-team SoCon schedule and the possibility of the FCS playoffs.

By Mark Wiedmer February 10, 2021 5 min read

My esteemed colleague Jay Greeson first broached the idea in his Tuesday morning “Five at 10” internet column for this paper.

With its 2020 football season all but wiped out due to the coronavirus, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and the rest of the Southern Conference are attempting to begin an abbreviated spring football season on February 20th against VMI at Finley Stadium.

At least the Mocs hope to play that day if COVID-19 allows it.

But – Greeson argued with much wisdom – why not consider moving to the spring every year, if only to avoid butting heads with the Alabamas, Georgias and Tennessees of the Southeastern Conference on autumn Saturdays?

Why not, indeed.